Driving in Bhutan vs. Kuwait: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Bhutan and Kuwait, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly influence their journeys. This comparison highlights crucial contrasts, such as driving sides, speed limits, and alcohol policies, ensuring travelers grasp the vital nuances for a safer experience behind the wheel. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not commonly practiced. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
kuwait:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
kuwait:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
kuwait:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
kuwait:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 45-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 45 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
kuwait:
45 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
kuwait:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
kuwait:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
kuwait:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
kuwait:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
kuwait:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
kuwait:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless signs allow |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Bhutan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
kuwait:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Less common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Significant fines and legal consequences |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
kuwait:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
kuwait:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
kuwait:
Less common
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
Enforcement: Imprisonment
bhutan:
Possible for severe offenses
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
kuwait:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
kuwait:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; may include points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Very severe penalties for any alcohol |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes, possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
kuwait:
Yes, possible
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days